HC Deb 31 March 1943 vol 388 cc194-5W
Sir W. Smiles

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many doctors qualified at the central hospital at Suva, Fiji, during the year 1942; and from what places in the Pacific did these medical practitioners come?

Colonel Stanley

As the annual medical report for Fiji for 1942 has not yet been received, I have no information as to the number of doctors who qualified at the central medical school at Suva in that year, but I am asking the Governor to furnish particulars.

Sir W. Smiles

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make arrangements for the training of nurses from other island groups in the Pacific at the Central Nursing School at Suva, Fiji, and not allow nurses from Fiji only to monopolise the training at this institution?

Colonel Stanley

Although the fourteen nurses who qualified at the central nursing school at Suva in 1941 all came from Fiji, the training at this school is in no sense monopolised by nurses from the colony. In 1941 an additional four pupils from other Pacific administrations were received at the school, and although the building programme anticipated a total of 75 pupils, it is considered that accommodation for at least 100 will eventually be necessary to meet the combined requirements of Fiji and other island groups.